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Membership at the turn of the century
The
Congregational church was the first religious body organized
in the town. Deeply impressed as were our Puritan forefathers
with the value of religion to the soul, they were equally
impressed with its value to the state, and were careful to
rear, side by side with their civil structure, the Church,
in which, as they believed, the pure Gospel of Christ was
preached, and the soundest principles of morality inculcated.
Proof of their pious care in this respect is to be found in
the history of Redding, as in that of almost every New England
town.
As
early as August, 1729, but three months after they had wrung
a reluctant consent from the mother town to assume parish
privileges, we find them providing for the settlement of a
minister among them in the following manner: "At a Society
Meeting held in the Society of Redding, Deacon George Hull
chosen Moderator. It was voited that s'd Society would give
for the settlement of a minister in s'd society the sum of
seventy pounds, and a house, and his wood, and bring it up,
and the next year eighty pounds, and raise five pounds a year
till it comes to one hundred pounds a year. It was voted,
that Edmond Luis, esquire, shall decide the matter as to setting
the meeting hous, it was voted that sd Mr. Luis should
come the first week in October to decide the matter aforesd.
No minister was settled, however, until 1733; the first church
edifice was erected early in 1732. It stood a few yards west
of the present Methodist church, and nearly in the center
of the public square or common. A Photograph or rough sketch
even, of this first church in Redding, would be invaluable
to men of the present day; we are certain, however, that it
was a much more elegant and finished edifice than was common
in the settlements. It was two stories high, as we shall see,
and of quite respectable dimensions. It was also lathed and
plastered, and furnished with galleries, and windows of imported
glass, but further details are lacking. All that is to be
found in the church records concerning the building is contained
in the following extracts:
November 12th 1730-It was voted that we will build a
meting-hous in said society for the worship of God in the
Presbyterian way. Voted that the meting-hous shall be thirty
feet long, twenty eight feet wide, and two stories high. Voted
that Lemuel Sanford, Thomas Williams, and Daniel Lion (be)
chosen committee for (building) sd meting-hous.
February 23rd 1730-You that are of the minds that all
those persons that do, or hereafter may inhabit in the parish,
which profess themselves to be of the Church of England, shall
have free liberty to come into this meting-hous that is now
in building, and attend the Publick worship of God there,
according to the articles of faith agreed upon by the assembly
of Divine at Seabrook, and established by the Laws of this
Government, and be seated in sd hous according to their
estates.
November 3rd 1732-Stephen Burr hath undertaken to cart
stones and clay for the underpinning the meting-hous for 1lb.
10s. 00d. Daniel Lion hath undertaken to underpinning the
meting hous and tend himself for 2lb. 4s. od. Daniel Lion
hath undertaken to get the lath and lay them on for 3lb.0s.
0d. Stephen Burr and Theopphilus Hull are chosen committee
to take care of the parsonage. (probably to secure a
parsonage for the expected preacher, as it is not likely that
one was then built). It was as yet, however, a church without
a pastor. Mr. Elisha Kent had been called in October, 1730,
but had declined, as we infer from the silence of the records
on the subject. A society meeting held May 8th 1732 extended
a similar call to the Rev. Timothy Mix, and deputed Deacon
George Hull "to go to the association at Stanford to
ask advice concerning the settlement of Mr. Mix;" but
this call, as in the case of Mr. Kent, seems to have been
declined. At length a unanimous call was made to the Rev.
Nathaniel Hunn, as follows:
Jan. 31, 1732-3--At a society meeting held in the parish
(of) Reading, George Hull chosen Moderator for s'd meting,
Mr. Nathaniel Hunn by a voit nemine contradicente was made
chois of for the minister of s'd parish, furthermore it was
voited at sd meting to settle upon the s'd Mr. Hunn's
yearly salery as followeth, that is, for the first year of
his administration, seventy pounds current money or bills
of Public Credit in New England, the second year, seventy-five
pounds, for the third year, eighty pounds, for the fourth
year, eighty five pounds, the fifth year ninety pounds, the
sixth year, ninety five pounds, the seventh year, a hundred
pounds, all in current money as afores'd, and so on a hundred
pounds a year during the term of his continuance in the ministry
in s'd parish, and also to give the s'd -Mr. Hunn the whole
and sole privilege of all the parsonage land belonging to
s'd parish, and to provide him his firewood, during the term
above s'd, also to find him a convenient dwelling hous for
the first five years, also to give the s'd Mr. Hunn, a hundred
acres of land on or before the day of his ordination."
Feb.
20th, 1732-3-It was voited that the ordination of Mr.
Hunn shall be on the 21st day of March next," and John
Read and George Hull were chosen a committee "to represent
the parish concerning the ordination of Mr. Hunn." From
this point we have for a guide the church records in the handwriting
of Mr. Hunn, its settled pastor. It is called "A Book
of Records Wherein is an account, 1st of the transactions
of the church, 2d of persons received to communion, 3rd of
persons baptized, 4th of marriages, 5th of deaths, 6th of
persons who renew the covenant." The Rev. Sidney G. Law,
in his Centennial Sermon, delivered at Redding, July 6th,
1876, thus speaks of Mr. Hunn s pastorate: "His first
record is very brief for so important a matter, viz: 'March
21st, 1733, I was separated to the work of the ministry by
prayer and fasting, and the laying on of the hands of the
Presbytery.' The next record gives the choice of deacons,
viz: 'At a church meeting March 29, 1733, we made choice of
Stephen Burr for a deacon, and some time after we chose Thee.
Hull to the same service. The next records relate to the adoption
of Tate and Brady's version of the Psalms, first for one month,
and then for the indefinite future. The first members of the
church enumerated by Mr. Hunn were as follows: Col. John Read
and wife, Theophilus Hull and wife, George Hull and wife,
Peter Burr and wife, Daniel Lion and wife, Daniel Bradley
and wife, Stephen Burr and his wife, Ebenezer Hull and his
wife, John Griffin, Nathaniel Sanford, Thomas Fairchild, Lemuel
Sanford, Benjamin Lion and wife, Mary wife of Richard Loin,
Isaac Hull, Ester wife of Thomas Williams, Ester wife of Benjamin
Hamilton. Thus it appears that the church was organized with
twenty-six members, including the two deacons, about the time
that Mr. Hunn was ordained. viz., the 21st of March, 1733.
Mr. Hunn married Ruth, a sister of Col. Read(She was a daughter
of the Hon. John Read, who settled at Lonetown in 1714. Both
Mr. Law and Mr. Barber are in error in supposing that the
original John Read lived and died in Redding. He moved to
Boston in 1722, and his son John succeeded to his title, and
manor at Lonetown. The latter is the one mentioned in these
records.) He was pastor of the church sixteen years. During
this time he received about ninety-two members into the church,
the most of them by letter of recommendation from neighboring
churches. He performed thirty-five marriages and one hundred
and ninety-two baptisms. He died while on a journey, and was
buried in Boston in 1749. His widow, Ruth Hunn, died in 1766,
and was buried near her brother, Col. John Read, in the cemetery
west of the parsonage."
Mr. Hunn's administration seems to have been a happy and prosperous
one, and few events of importance occurred during its continuance.
the records are taken up with cases of church discipline,
with additions to his salary, providing his firewood, and
with repairs to the meeting house.
In 1738 it was voted "to finish glassing the meting hous
as is begun, and do something tot he pulpit." In 1739,
"voted, that Segt. Joseph Lee shall get Mr. Hunn's wood,
and have seven pounds for it." "Voted that the place
for putting up warnings for society meetings be changed from
Umpawaug to the mill door." In 1740, "voted to rectifie
the meting hous in the following articles, viz. to put in
new glass where it is wanting, and to mend the old. To lay
some beams in the gallary and double floor. To fasten the
meting hous doors; to make stairs up the gallery," and
"that the place for parish meeting shall be at the school
house, by the meting hous for the future." In 1741, "voted,
to seat the meting hous in the lower part with plain strong
seats." In 1742, "voted to impower the parish committee
to agree with a person to beat the drum as a signal to call
the people together on the Sabbath." Again Feb. 15, 1743-4,
"It was voted that the timber and boards provided for
seating the meeting house, shall be improved to that end for
the use of the Parish." These entries though unimportant
in themselves give us pleasant glimpses of the healthy and
active life of the church. Mr. Hunn died in the summer or
fall of 1749, and for the four following years the church
was without a pastor. A call was extended to Mr. Solomon Mead
in March, 1751, without success, and in November of the same
year to the Rev. Izrahiah Wetmore, with a like result. The
interim was improved by the people, however, in building a
new church, which stood nearly on the site of the present
edifice.
The first action in this important matter was taken at a Society
meeting held Feb. 9, 1748, when it was put to vote "whether
it be necessary to build a new meting hous in s'd Parish,"
and passed in the affirmative; whereupon "Left. Joseph
Sanford" was appointed agent for the Society to prefer
a memorial to the next General Assembly, "to affix the
place whereon the meting hous should be built." The successive
stages by which the building grew to completion are defined
in a very interesting manner in the records." Dec. 29th,
1799, "It was voted that Deacon Burr and others be a
committee to see that there is timber got, and sawmill logs
for a meeting house in this Parish, s'd timber to be 37 ft.
in width and 46 ft. in length." Jan. 17th, 1750, the
County Court in session at Fairfield, on the memorial of Redding,
appointed Thomas Benedict, Esq., and Capt. Josiah Starr, of
Danbury, and Samuel Olmsted, Esq., of Ridgefield, a committee
to affix the place whereon the meeting house should be built;
to act with these, the Society appointed a committee composed
of John Read, Stephen Burr, Joseph Sanford, and Ephraim Jackson.
Jan 29th, 1751, a committee was appointed "to agree with
some persons top build the new meeting house." It would
appear that ground had not been broken for it as early as
April 25th, 1751, for at that date a committee was appointed
to meet the County Court's committee "to find a place
for the meeting house."
It was probably completed and ready for use early in the summer
of 1752, as on the 22d of June of that year a call was extended
to the Rev. Mr. Tammage to be their preacher, and the old
meeting house was sold to Jehu Burr for L34. The manner in
which this meeting house was "seated" (which did
not occur until 1763) is an interesting commentary on the
manners and customs of the day, and has the further merit
of novelty, it being doubtful if another record can be found
in New England detailing so minutely the method of assigning
pews in the early Puritan churches. We copy from the records
of a Society meeting held at Widow Sanford's, June 23d, 1763:
"Put to vote whether the meeting house of s'd society
shall be seated in ye form following viz. a com'te being appointed
to Dignify ye pews and other seats in s'd society shall sit
in s'd pews and seats according to their Rank and Degree to
be computed by their several lists and age, viz. upon ye two
last years lists, and to allow three pound per year to be
added to a person's List for his advancement in a seat, and
all at ye discresion of s'd com'te who shall be appointed
to Dignify s'd pews and seats, and to inspect the respective
lists and ages of s'd members."
The committee appointed was Joseph Sanford, Ebenezer Couch,
and Stephen Burr; but Messrs. Sanford and Burr declining to
act, Ephraim Jackson and Joseph Banks were chosen in their
place." This committee was unable to settle the question
satisfactorily, and a meeting was held August 11th, 1763,
at which the following action was taken:
"It was put to vote whether the Dignity of ye pews and
seats in ye meeting house should be in the following manner
viz. ye pew adjoining ye pulpit stairs first in Dignity: ye
pew adjoining ye grait doors, west side, second in Dignity:
the fore seat third in Dignity, the second pew west of ye
pulpit, fourth, the second seat, fifth: the second pew north
from the west door, sixth: the fifth pew north of ye west
door seventh: the third pew north of the west door, eighth:
the second pew west of ye grait doors ninth: the first pew
south of ye west door, tenth: the third seat, eleventh: the
second pew south of the west door twelfth: the fourth seat,
thirteenth the front seat in ye gallery, fourteenth: the fore
seat on ye side of the gallery, fifteenth: the pews and seats
upon ye east end of ye meeting house of Equal Dignity with
those upon the west side in the same manner and order as they
are above mentioned. Passed in the negative."
Three months later another meeting was called, and adopted
the following plan:
"The respective members of the society shall sit in ye
pews and seats of the meeting house of s'd Society according
to their rank or degree, to be computed by their respective
lists and ages, viz., upon the lists given in upon the years
1751 and 1761 and 1762, and to allow three pounds per year
to be added to a person's list for his advancement in a seat
or pew the Respective lists and ages of s'd members are to
be inspected, also to give the committee chosen at this meeting
power to seat those that are new comers, and have not...in
s'd society, to seat them at s'd committee's discresion.
"Likewise to seat ye Widows in s'd society at the best
of ye committee's judgement, which method of seating s'd meeting
house shall continue until s'd Society at their meeting shall
order otherwise.
"Also voted that s'd com'te shall seat those women whose
husbands belong to the Church of England at their discresion."
The Rev. Nathaniel Bartlett, the second pastor of the church,
was ordained May 23d, 1753, the next year after the church
was built. Form the record in his own handwriting, we learn
that the ministers who assisted at his ordination were as
follows: "The Rev. Mr. White of Danbury made the first
prayer. The Rev. Mr. Todd of East Guilford preached the sermon.
Rev. Mr. Kent made the ordaining prayer. Rev. Mr. Mills of
Ripston gave the charge, Rev. Mr. Judson of Newtown gave the
right hand of fellowship, and Rev. Mr. Ingersoll of Ridgefield
made the concluding prayer. Mr. Bartlett came to Redding
when a young man fresh from his collegiate studies, and continued
pastor of the church over which he was ordained for fifty-seven
years--the longest pastorate, it is said, known to the New
England churches. He is described as a gentleman of the old
school, kind and considerate, of an equable temper, a just
man, a fine scholar, and an eloquent preacher. During his
term of service the crude settlement in the wilderness assumed
the dignity of a town. The church grew from infancy to manhood
and the country passed from the position of dependent colonies
to that of free and sovereign states. In the War of Independence
Mr. Bartlett's sympathies were entirely with the patriot cause;
two of his sons entered the army, munitions of war were stored
in his house, and he himself frequently officiated as chaplain
during the encampment of Putnam's division in the town in
the winter of 1779. Like many of the New England clergymen
of that day, he was the teacher of such youths in his charge
as might desire a liberal education, and among the many whom
he thus fitted for usefulness was the celebrated poet and
statesman, Joel Barlow. Mr. Bartlett died Jan. 11, 1810, and
was buried in the old cemetery west of the church. The simple
inscription upon his tombstone reads as follows:
THE REV. NATHANIEL BARTLETT.
Died, January 11, 1810, aged 83 years.
"I am the resurrection and the life; he that believeth
in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live."--JESUS
CHRIST.
During the entire period of Mr. Bartlett's ministry we have
in the church records but one entry of importance, and that
is of interest as marking the legal status of the Episcopal
Society in the town. This entry is as follows:
"To Seth S. Smith of Redding, in Fairfield Co.Greeting,
Whereas by law the Episcopal Church in said Redding is become
a distinct society whereby the members of the Presbyterian
church in said Redding have become the first society in said
town. These are therefore by authority of the State of Connecticut
to command you to warn and give notice to all the members
of said first society, and all others who by law are obliged
to contribute toward the support, and the worship, and the
ministry with the same, to meet at the meeting house in said
Redding on Monday the 20th of December at 12 in order to choose
a moderator and necessary officers. "Redding, December
14, 1785
The Rev. Jonathan Bartlett, third minister of the church,
was ordained as colleague with his father, Rev. Nathaniel
Bartlett, in 1796. The first of the church records in his
handwriting is as follows: "Feb. 3 1796· I was separated
to the work of the ministry and ordained as colleague with
my father Nathaniel Bartlett over the Congregational church
in Redding in Gospel order and form. The ministers who performed
the work were as follows viz. the Rev. Israhiel Wetmore chosen
Moderator, Robert Ross made the ordaining prayer, Elisha Rexford
made the introductory prayer, David Ely preached the sermon.
Imposition of hands by N. Bartlett, R· Ross and Rexford. John
Ely gave the right hand of fellowship, Samuel W. Stebbins
made the concluding prayer. "Of the life and ministry
of this most excellent man, one who knew him intimately, the
Rev. Thomas F. Davies, thus wrote: "In February, 1796,
Mr. Bartlett was ordained colleague with his father, and after
a faithful ministry of thirteen years, greatly esteemed and
beloved by his people, was dismissed on account of ill-health,
and by his own request. His heart was gladdened near the close
of his pastoral life by a powerful and general revival of
religion among the people of his charge. After his dismission,
and when his health had been in a degree restored, he preached
from time to time to destitute congregations in the vicinity,
and at different periods, as occasion required, to the church
of which he had been pastor, with great acceptation and usefulness.
As a preacher he was eminently distinguished, for he was a
man 'mighty in the Scriptures Large portions of the
Word of God, entire epistles even, dwelling in his memory,
and when an impaired vision rendered the perusal of a book
difficult or painful, he reviewed in his own mind, and often
rehearsed to others, portions of the Scriptures with comments
which rendered his society delightful and instructive He was
a man of native eloquence, and great skill in the examination
and exhibition of the subject which came before him. He was
a scribe, 'well instructed in the things of the kingdom, a
workman that needed not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the
word of truth.' While aiding other societies, he was eminently
a benefactor to the church and society of which he had been
a pastor, for in addition to the ministerial services gratuitously
rendered, he gave in money in his various benefaction more
to the society than the entire amount received from if during
the whole period of his ministry, and has also left it a legacy
of three thousand dollars. Useful, honored, and beloved he
lived in his native town, inhabiting for nearly a century
the same residence, for he was born in the house in which
he died. With a calm and humble trust in God, in the entire
possession of his mental powers, and with little apparent
suffering, he fell asleep in Jesus."
Rev. Daniel Crocker, of Bedford, N.Y., was called in August,
1809, as colleague with Rev. Nathaniel Bartlett. He was a
good man and a successful pastor, and served the church fifteen
years, being dismissed in 1824. The Rev. Charles DeWitt Trappen
was called, but not settled. The next pastor chosen was Mr.
William C. Kniffen in 1825. He was dismissed in 1828. The
Rev. Burr Baldwin was next called, but not settled. The next
pastor was the Rev. William L. Strong, formerly pastor
at Somers, Tolland Co., Conn. He was installed June 23d, 1830,
and dismissed Feb. 26th, 1835. In September, 1835, following
Mr. Strong's dismissal, a subscription was commenced for the
erection of the present church edifice, which was built in
1836. The expense was not to exceed $2,500.00 with the old
meeting house. In December of the same year a unanimous call
was extended to the Rev. David C. Comstock, but was not accepted
at that time. In March, 1837, Rev. Daniel E. Manton was called,
but not settled. In June of the same year the Rev. Jeremiah
Miller was called, and was installed July 12th, 1837. Mr.
Miller was demised in 1839. In the following year, 1840, Mr.
David C. Comstock was ordained and installed pastor of the
church. He was dismissed in 1845. After him Daniel D. Frost,after
preaching as stated supply for eighteen months, was ordained
December 30th, 1845. He continued pastor ten years, being
dismissed October 13th, 1856. In 1857 the pulpit was supplied
by the Rev. Mr. Root. In 1858 the Rev. Enoch S. Huntington
supplied the pulpit one year. He presented the communion service
to the church, for which he received his thanks. In 1859 the
church was remodeled and painted, receiving the beautiful
fresco which still adorns it. In 1860 Rev. W.D. Herrick became
pastor, and so continued until 1864. after him Rev. E. B.
Huntington, and also Rev. Mr. Barnum. preached for a short
time. Rev. S. F. Farmer supplied in 1865. Rev. K.B. Glidden
was installed September 12th, 1866; resigned December, 1868.
In 1869 the Rev. Charles Chamberlain became acting pastor.
He resigned in September, 1871.
Rev. Sidney G. Law, to whom I am in indebted for the above
summary of the later history of the church, became acting
pastor June 1st, 1872, and after a prosperous ministry of
six years resigned in 1878.
Rev. W.J. Jennings, the present pastor, was installed December
17th, 1879. Some statistics of this ancient church ready gathered
to my hand will prove interesting and valuable. The complete
list of those who have served it as pastors, with the date
of their ordination and dismissal, is as follows:
Ministers
Nathaniel Hunn
Nathaniel Bartlett
Jonathan Bartlett
Daniel Crocker
William C. Kniffen
William L. Strong
Jeremiah Miller
David C. Comstock
Daniel D. Frost
Enoch S. Huntington
W.D. Herrick
K.B. Glidden
Charles Chamberlain
Sidney G. Law
Deacons
Stephen
Burr
Theophilus Hull
Lemuel Sanford
Daniel Mallory
Joseph Banks
Simon Couch
Lemuel Sanford
Stephen Betts
Lemuel Sanford
Aaron Read
Joel Foster
Lemuel Hawley
Samuel Read
Charles D. Smith
Rufus Meade
Thaddeus M. Abbott
Revivals
1808-9
75 conversions
1823 40 conversions
1829 08 conversions
1831 20 conversions
1838 30 conversions
1852 24 conversions
1855 12 conversions
The membership of the church at the time
Charles Burr Todd was compiling in formation on the 'History
of Redding' was 119. Forty males and Seventy-nine females.
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